On Thursday May 14, the office for the Burial of a Priest and the Divine Liturgy on May 15th, was served in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Redford MI by the son of the departed and rector of the parish, Archpriest Timothy Barna, co-served by local visiting clergy. Click here to read more.
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On Monday May 18, the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes of the US, His Grace Bishop John of Naro-Fominsk served the final Panihida for the newly-departed Archimandrite Illya (Barna) who reposed on May 8th. The Panihida was served in St. Nicholas Church in Reading PA, the parish in which Fr. Illya began his service to the Church in 1946.
His Grace was co-served by:
Archpriest George Konyev, Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA
Archpriest Emil Minkovich, Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Elizabeth NJ
Archpriest John Kassatkin, Rector of Elevation of the Cross Church, Hackettstown NJ
Archpriest Vincent Saverino, Rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Philadelphia PA
Archpriest Basil Micek, Rector of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Scranton PA
Archpriest Michael Lepa
Archpriest Timothy Barna, Rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church, Redford MI
Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov), Cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral NYC
Hieromonk Savvatey (Ageyev), Parish Rector
Priest Gregory Winsky, Cleric of St. Michael the Archgangel Church, Philadelphia PA
Deacon Mark Rashkov, Cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral, NYC
At the conclusion of the Panihida, Bishop John expressed his condolonces to the family of the newly-departed.
Afterwards, Bishop John, the clergy and family gathered at the parish cemetery of St. Nicholas. Archpriest Timothy Barna served the Litia. Fr. Illya was interred alongside his matushka. Bishop John also prayed at the gravesite of Fr. Illya's parents, Archimandrite Ignatius (Barna) and his late matushka. A United States Navy Honor Guard was also present, in accordance with funerary customs for deceased veterans.